February 7, i90[] 



NATURE 



345 



different levels of land show clearly that the directions 

 taken by these rivers are the only possible courses for 

 water running downwards to the sea. The course of the 

 Amazon and its tributaries across South America can 

 similarly be understood by a glance at the orographical 

 map. There are thirty maps of this kind in the series, 

 and they are uniform in excellence. They thus bring 

 out prominently the importance of land elevation, and 

 used as they are intended to be — for pupils to fill in the 

 details of physical, political and commercial geography 

 — they will be of real educational value. In the absence 

 of relief or contour maps, the " Diagram" series of oro- 

 graphical maps provide an admirable introduction to the 

 study of geographical science. To convey the idea of 

 comparative size. Great Britain or the British Isles Is 

 represented in one corner of each map on the same scale 

 as the map itself. The maps can be supplied as lantern 

 slides, as well as in several forms suitable for school 

 requirements. 



Among the noteworthy characteristics of Mr. George 

 Philip's atlas are its remarkable cheapness — the price is 

 only \s. — and the selection of important geographical 

 features to which prominence is given. There are in 

 the Atlas forty coloured plates, containing ninety maps 

 and plans, and eight pages of introductory letterpress. 

 Physical features are clearly represented, and the scale 

 is stated under each map. The difficulty of distinguishing 

 between political boundaries and lines bordering physical 

 features has been successfully overcome by printing the 

 former in distinct red lines. The maps have not the 

 common defect of being overcrowded, and they are up to 

 date both as regards the spelling of namies and political 

 divisions. To ensure that the pupil understands the 

 meaning of a map, several views and plans are given side 

 by side ; and there are also maps of the County of London 

 and the Thames Basin. These special supplementary 

 maps can be modified to suit local requirements. There 

 is no excuse for using obsolete maps filled with confusing 

 and unnecessary details now an Atlas such as that by 

 Mr. Philip is available. 



The Atlas edited by Mr. Arnold-Forster is constructed 

 upon the same intelligent principles as the preceding 

 one ; the maps are well drawn, beautifully coloured, not 

 overcrowded, and the place-names have been carefully 

 selected. Views, plans and sections are shown under 

 one another in the introductory maps to provide lessons 

 in map reading. There are also maps of the same 

 district on different scales, illustrations of methods of 

 showing elevation, as used in Ordnance Survey maps, 

 and a reduced Admiralty chart of the Needles to show 

 the method of sea-mappmg. Several good astronomical 

 diagrams show some of the phenomena connected with 

 the rotation and revolution of the earth, but Map 8 is 

 incorrectly designated the Solar System ; for all that 

 comes under this head in it are the earth in its orbit 

 at the equinoxes and solstices, and the lines represent- 

 ing the relative lengths of the diameters of the sun, 

 earth and moon. Following these maps are forty others 

 upon which the various continents and countries of the 

 world are represented according to their physical features 

 or political divisions. Several maps are devoted to the 

 representation of the growth 'of the British Empire. 

 Dr. A. J. Herbertson contributes some notes on the | 

 NO. 1632, VOL. 63] 



construction and reading of maps, and teachers will 

 learn from them how the Atlas can best be used and 

 appreciated. 



The appearance of these Atlases at about the same 

 time indicates, we hope, that more careful attention is to 

 be paid to instruction in geography in the future than is 

 now given in most schools. The maps represent the 

 best that have yet been prepared at a low price for use 

 by individual pupils, and their adoption can be recom- 

 mended to all teachers of geography. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Die Phoiographie im Hochgebirq. Von Emil Terschak. 

 Pp. XV -H 87. (Berlin : Gustav Schmidt, 1900.) 



In this neat little book of some 90 pages, the author gives 

 the reader some practical hints, both in word and illus- 

 tration, as to the road to success in mountain photo- 

 graphy. The hand camera is now so generally used, 

 owing to the rapidity of modern lenses, and there are so 

 many of us who like climbing, and who always carry one 

 of such instruments on our tours, that such a book as 

 this, full of practical hints, will be welcomed. Mountain 

 photography is quite an art in itself, and he who is a 

 good picture-maker near the sea level does not neces- 

 sarily meet with success when some thousand feet or so 

 up. The effects to be portrayed at that height are of 

 quite a different nature. There we have great contrasts 

 of rock and sky, clouds lying at our feet, mists hanging 

 about different hill-sides, and snow-capped peaks and 

 glaciers adding to the beauty of the landscape. 



Each of these cannot be immediately reproduced on 

 the photographic plate without either a great experience 

 in the class of work, or a careful study of the labours of 

 others. In this book the author brings together in an 

 enticing manner the chief points to be borne in mind 

 when making a tour. He commences with useful infor- 

 mation relative to the packing up of the camera, plates, 

 &c., and then in turn treats of the several conditions 

 under which the photographer is likely to work— such 

 as photographing mountains from a valley or vice versa, 

 mountain groups from a height, clouds, mists, &c. The 

 author accompanies his remarks with numerous excel- 

 lent reproductions from his own negatives, and in every 

 case gives data, such as the kind of plate used, lens, 

 stop, length of exposure, time of day and year. Every 

 one who is familiar with the German language, and is 

 interested in mountain photography, will be sure to find 

 this a serviceable book. 



A7t Introduction to Vegetable Physiology. By J. 

 Reynolds Green, Sc.D., F.R.S., Professor of Botany 

 to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. 

 Pp. XX -1-459. (London : J. and A. Churchill, 1900.) 



One of the needs most widely felt in modern botanical 

 literature has been that of a good intermediate book deal- 

 ing with vegetable physiology. Although several standard 

 works dealing with this branch of botany are already in 

 existence, they are for the most part of too advanced a 

 character to be of much use to a junior student. It is a 

 matter for gratification that the task of providing such a 

 treatise should have fallen into such good hands as those 

 of Prof. Green, by whom, as might have been expected, 

 the subject-matter has been skilfully handled and admir- 

 ably illustrated. By wisely avoiding excessive detail, 

 and by duly emphasising trom different points of view 

 the various matters of special importance, the author has 

 succeeded in producing a really excellent student's book, 

 whilst the general reader will find the principal topics of 

 current physiological interest presented in a lucid and 

 interesting manner. 



